Jewish Rabbi's who
believe Yeshua is the Messiah

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Rabbi Philipp Philips

Philipp
Philips had the good fortune, like so many Jewish people, to descend from a
pious family, and at an early age he became acquainted with the literature of
his nation. Later he became Rabbi of a Synagogue in New York and one Friday
evening he entered the synagogue just at the moment the cantor was singing the
words: "O Bridegroom, meet the Bride., let us go forward to bring in the Sabbath
. . . Arise from the dust. Put on your beautiful garments, My people., through
the son of Jesse from Bethlehem comes salvation to my soul." And Philips
earnestly, longed for salvation. His heart was full of fear that he might not be
saved so he took refuge in his books. He read all the Jewish writings: the
Mishnah and the Gemara, the Midrash Rabbah and the Targum (an Aramaic
translation of the Bible) and numerous other writings. Yet nothing could satisfy
the longing of his heart. Nowhere could he find information on the matter of haw
to gain salvation. In whom could he confide? He could not think of any member of
his congregation who could help him; and there was the possibility that he might
be suspected of wanting to forsake the Jewish religion.

Now it
happened that during that time of fear and doubt the former rabbi, Jacob
Freshman was working in New York. He was the director of a mission to the Jews
and he had helped many Jewish people to find the Saviour through his earnest
ministry. Philipp Philips felt attracted to this man but he did not risk going
to him during the day, because he knew that it would be a very dangerous thing
for a rabbi to visit such a man openly. Consequently, he decided to go late one
night. On his way he met the well-known evangelist D. L. Moody with whom he had
been friendly for a long time. They greeted each other and, with surprise, Moody
asked him, "Rabbi, what compels you to go out so late in the night?" Philips
told him that he was on his way to the Rev. Freshman. "He is away on a mission
tour," said Moody, "and he will probably he away for a couple of weeks."

Then, as
Philips relates, Moody continued, "Rabbi, why do you not stay at home and enjoy
the fruit of your table? Friend, you are restless, I can notice that. My spirit
tells me you are a Nicodemus." At once he saw that he had said the right thing,
and rejoiced. "Praise the Lord!" Moody told him also that he and Dr. Rosvally,
the well-known physician, had prayed that he would see that Jesus was the
Messiah and he requested him to read the New Testament. But Philips refused
because he was afraid of persecution should the Jews hear of it. Moody, however,
was not easy to get rid of and he offered the Rabbi a New Testament, asking
Philips to read the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Still
he refused, saying it would be impossible for him to believe in the Jesus of
Moody. But in the end he accepted the Book.

And what a
discovery he made! He had thought to find in it a fountain of pride,
selfishness. hatred and violence; but instead he found only love, humility and
peacefulness. Instead of stones he found pearls; where he was afraid of thorns,
there roses diffused their scent; where he thought to read of life’s
burden, there he read of blessedness, resurrection and heavenly treasures. Now
in the wonderful light of the New Testament he could understand the narratives
of the Hebrew Scriptures. As God had led his fathers in the wilderness by a
pillar of a cloud by day and by a pillar of fire by night, so he saw in Jesus
the Guide who has to lead us human beings in the way of Salvation. He realised
that the "half had not been told" to him and he turned to this Jesus, Whom he
now saw as the Redeemer of Israel and of the whole human race, as his Saviour
and God. He humbled himself and came to Jesus as a poor sinner in need of grace.
He trusted implicitly God’s
promises, and could at last understand the words of Isaiah 53:4-5, "He hath
borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God. and afflicted, but he was wounded for our transgressions. he was
bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with
his stripes we are healed."

His
friends did not understand him and his profession of the Christian faith was put
down to blindness. People asked him how much money he had been paid to become a
Christian, which caused him a great deal of pain. But he knew that he could not
expect anything from them. The unkindest blow came from his mother who wrote to
him: "Philipp! You are no longer my son. We have buried you figuratively. You
have deserted your father’s
religion and the Synagogue for the deceiver, Jesus, and therefore a curse will
be upon you." This letter wounded the son deeply although he knew that anyone
who decides to follow Jesus has to give up everything for Him.

The more
his people hated and despised him, the more fervently he loved them and prayed
for them. After three weeks he was able to send his mother a kind and loving
reply to her letter, and could only long for the day when he would be able to
take the message of salvation through Jesus to his dear ones.

His one
desire was then to become a minister of religion and to preach the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, a desire that was realised through the help of God. And for many
years he served his Master faithfully.